Frequent use of sunscreens, avoiding exposure can help prevent skin cancers

Summer. When it sizzles. Beaches, bathing suits and barbecues
this weekend will mark the unofficial beginning of the season. But
don't forget the sunscreen, or that sizzle might be the sun frying
vulnerable skin.

Whether prognosticators call for rain or shine, clear or hazy,
the sun's ultraviolet rays —— commonly called UV rays —— can cause
skin damage. They are omnipresent and can penetrate and change the
structure of skin cells.

Even brief trips outside can be damaging, said Ruth Gilboa, a
North County dermatologist with 16 years' experience.

Walking out to your car in the parking lot, walking outside your
home and other short trips, you may get small amounts of sun —— but
you're getting it many times a day.

Hats, visors, umbrellas and parasols are recommended outdoor
gear for people who live in this state. Most important, however is
sunscreen.

"And SPF 15 daily if you live in California no matter where you
live," Gilboa said. "No matter what your skin color is, what your
pigmentation is, you need sunscreen. Even African-Americans can get
skin cancer."

We get the sun

Californians get more sun than people in most other states for a
couple of reasons: "The closer to the equator you are, the stronger
the sun is," Gilboa said. "In many parts of the world, in the
winter it's a lot of darkness. We do get more UV than many people
living in other parts of the world."

Californians also have a more varied playground, and different
recreation spots might call for different precautions.

"Another important point is that, for every thousand feet you're
up in the air, the sun is 5 percent stronger," Gilboa said. "So at
Big Bear, it would be 30 percent stronger than sitting in a park or
walking on the streets in San Diego."

By the sea shore, it would seem to be 30 percent less, but
you're getting the effects from the water's reflection as well,
which means rays from above and below.

Sunscreen is used to protect the skin, the largest organ of the
body. But there are many factors to be aware of when applying
it.

For instance, many men don't have hair covering their ears the
way women do, Gilboa said. So men tend to get a lot of sun damage
on top of their ears.

Riding in a car is no barrier, either.

"UVA does go through window glass, and so a lot of people living
in Southern California have a lot more damage on the left side of
their face and their left arm," she said. "So even if you're just
going driving, you should have sunscreen."

Three kinds of UV light

UV light is divided into three kinds, Gilboa said: UVA, UVB and
UVC. UVA penetrates beyond the top layer of human skin, and
scientists believe it can cause damage to connective tissue, states
a report from the national Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in Atlanta. UVB rays are less abundant because a
significant portion of them are absorbed by the ozone layer, the
report said. UVB rays penetrate less deeply into the skin than do
UVA rays, but also can be damaging. UVC radiation is extremely
hazardous to skin, but does not reach the surface of the earth.

So the product label on your sunscreen should say "broad
spectrum" or "UVA and UVB protection," she said. For those who may
be allergic to one kind of sunscreen, she recommends they keep
trying until they find another.

Gilboa, who is originally from Sweden, has lived in the area
since 1987. Her practice is in Vista, Solana Beach and
Temecula.

"I treat a lot of skin cancer," the Solana Beach resident said.
She also does chemical peels, cosmetic treatments like Botox and
collagen. "We don't realize how much sun exposure we get from
living," Gilboa said.

Skin cancer is largely preventable by limiting exposure to the
primary source of UV radiation, which is sunlight, according to
reports by the CDC.

Although ultraviolet rays are an invisible form of radiation
that comes from the sun, the CDC reports said, UV rays from
artificial sources of light, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, are
equally dangerous and should also be avoided.

Although both tanning and burning can increase a person's risk
of skin cancer, most Americans do not consistently protect
themselves from UV rays. Protection from sun exposure is important
all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach,
according to the CDC.

A little bit of sun can have some positive benefits, but
prolonged exposure without protection can result in eye damage,
premature aging, and various kinds of skin cancer, one of which is
considered deadly.

The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight savings
time and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during standard time are the most
hazardous for UV exposure in the continental United States,
according to the CDC. Ultraviolet radiation is reportedly greatest
during the late spring and early summer in North America. The
dangerous rays can also reflect off surfaces like water, cement,
sand, and snow, the CDC report said.

More than 1 million cases

More than a million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer
this year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. More than half
of them will be skin cancers, the most common form of cancer in the
United States, the Foundation said on its Web site at
www.skincancer.org.

Founded in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit,
independent organization that conducts public and medical education
programs and provides support for medical training to help reduce
the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of this disease, their Web
site said.

Risk factors include light skin color, hair color, or eye color;
family or personal history of skin cancer; certain types of moles;
and freckles, which indicate sun sensitivity and sun damage. The
three major types of skin cancer are the highly curable basal-cell
and squamous-cell carcinomas, and the more serious malignant
melanoma, the site said..

In the United States, diagnoses of new melanomas are increasing,
whereas diagnoses of most other cancers are decreasing. Between 65
percent and 90 percent of melanomas are caused by UV radiation.

While sunscreen has been proven effective in preventing sun
damage, be aware that it's only effective if used properly.

Check the sunscreen's expiration date, the CDC recommends. No
date means a shelf life of no more than three years. Exposure to
extreme temperatures can shorten the product's shelf life, CDC
says.

Information from the national Centers for Disease Control, the
Skin Cancer Foundation and various Internet sites contributed to
this story.

Quick tips

Minimize exposure to the sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.

Seek shade.

Wear clothes and hats that protect the skin and face.

Wear wrap-around sunglasses that block close to 100% of UV
rays.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB
rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply
generously 30 minutes before going outside and reapply after
swimming, exercising, or sweating.

Avoid using sunlamps and tanning beds. They are also sources of
UV radiation.

More than half of a person's lifetime UV exposure typically
occurs during childhood and adolescence.

Encourage scheduling of outdoor activities during times when the
sun is not at peak intensity, when possible.

Modify building and grounds codes to increase availability of
shade in frequently used outdoor spaces.

Encourage or require students to wear protective clothing, hats,
and sunglasses.

Use sports participation checkups to educate students about skin
cancer prevention.

For more information, contact the Division of Cancer Prevention
and Control (DCPC) or the Division of Adolescent and School Health
(DASH), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at:
www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/ or
www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/contact/index.htm; (888) 842-6355 or (888)
231-6405

Contact Ruth Gilboa at (858) 259-0056 or the Web site at
www.dermspec.com

Lean more

Protection from sun exposure is important all year round. Any
time the sun's UV rays are able to reach the earth, you need to
protect yourself from excessive sun exposure.

UV rays reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as on bright
and sunny days. UV rays will also reflect off any surface like
water, cement, sand, and snow.

Relatively speaking, the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during
daylight savings time and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during standard time are
the most hazardous for UV exposure in the continental United
States. UV radiation is the greatest during the late spring and
early summer in North America.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a part of sunlight that is an
invisible form of radiation. UV rays can penetrate and change the
structure of skin cells. UV rays also have been found to be
associated with various eye conditions, such as cataracts.

More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun
exposure, yet fewer than 33 percent of adults, adolescents, and
children routinely use sun protection.

One in four persons who develop skin cancer is under the age of
40.

Almost 37 percent of white female adolescents and over 11
percent of white male adolescents between 13 and 19 years of age in
the U.S. have used tanning booths.

The effects of photoaging (skin aging caused by the sun) can be
seen as early as in oneís 20ís.

While melanoma is uncommon in African-Americans, Latinos, and
Asians, it is most deadly for these populations.

Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an
expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years.
Exposure to extreme temperatures can shorten the expiration date or
shelf life of sunscreen.

Although getting some sun exposure can yield a few positive
benefits, excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun can result
in premature aging and undesirable changes in skin texture. Such
exposure has been associated with various types of skin cancer,
including melanoma, one of the most serious and deadly forms.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is a non-profit, independent
organization,that conducts public and medical education programs
and provides support for medical training to help reduce the
incidence, morbidity, and mortality of ski cancer.

For information about the foundation and tips on how to
self-exam to spot skin cancer: visit the Web site:
www.skincancer.org

For a free brochure including a body map and the warning signs
of all major skin cancers, send a stamped, self-addressed,
business-size envelope to: